The Mike Lull Club Part 2

[VroomVroom]

Outstanding! I really do love the Duncan/Bart (and Fralin/Bart on four-strings) combo on these basses. Nothing against the Aguilar OBP-3 at all, although in general I find it to be a bit more harsh sounding...great for fretless to compensate for some of those lost upper mids, but otherwise often too much good stuff happening against the Duncans.

Anyway, in catching up I noticed the question about truss rod adjustments. I use a standard screwdriver. I think mine is 6"x3/16", but can't remember for sure. In any case, it's long enough to fit comfortably in the slot and allow ample torque for minute adjustments. At first I was a bit taken aback - I still recall thinking, "Hmmm....there's no truss rod wrench in the bag - I wonder what size hex I need..." - but after the first little tweak I was sold. The Lulls are the easiest of the basses I own with respect to keeping the neck nice and happy.

Personal/selfish note....I'm hoping to have my orange beast back in the next week or so. It's been sitting up north awaiting a P pickup for the neck spot. Mike is installing quick-connects and it'll ship back with the original J pickup and pickguard, so I can go from PJ to JJ if desired. Duncan has been backlogged on the five-string P for quite some time, and I'm anxious to hear the beast.

 

[kai_ski]

In addition to the harshness, there are two things that I prefer about the Bart. It seems to be more subtle. With the Aguilar, I felt like any minute adjustments made huge changes in the tone, particularly the Bass and Treble controls. Secondly, the Bart seems to be much quieter. I don't get ANY noise when I solo a pickup, I got a little hum when soloing either with the OBP-3. I also like having the mid adjustment at 250hz when I want some P-like punch. Anyway, I'm happy with the change. I already knew I liked the Bart, but I got lucky and made a straight trade with another TBer, so all it cost me was a little shipping.

For the truss-rod I picked up one of these for $1.99, works great:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[pauliebass]

Personal/selfish note....I'm hoping to have my orange beast back in the next week or so. It's been sitting up north awaiting a P pickup for the neck spot. Mike is installing quick-connects and it'll ship back with the original J pickup and pickguard, so I can go from PJ to JJ if desired. Duncan has been backlogged on the five-string P for quite some time, and I'm anxious to hear the beast.

Ah, That must be a hold up on mine as well. Although, it's only been 9 weeks since I ordered it. I probably have another 3 to wait.

 

[uncle]

Thanks. I got the Bart in the M5V today, and it sounds completely different. I'm far more in love with this bass now!

Hi, can you explain the main differences, soundwise, between the OBP-3 and the Bart? I have the Duncans with an OBP-3 on my M5V (alder body)

Thanks,
Dirk

 

[kai_ski]

Look ^^^ Both Jerry and I comment on what we prefer about the Bart.

It's hard to articulate anything more than I've already written. They are capable of very similar tone. To my ear the Bart is less colored, I prefer to leave the eq flat whenever possible. If the room or style that I'm playing requires more or less of something, I find it a lot easier to get the sounds I want with the Bart than the Aggie.

I guess it's all in the ears, relative to your preferences. If you're unhappy with the OPB-3, I would suggest trying the NTMB, but if it isn't broken don't fix it.

 

[uncle]

Thanks!

One more question!
Is it the Bartolini NTMB - 3 Band Preamp - 4.6 A/P that is used in the M5V?

 

[Ron Plichta]

Here's a quick update on the Lull Club members. I think I made an error on one of themie, Funkster, so please check below and I'll fix what I can.

1 Ron Plichta
2 Timothy
3 B.C.
4 tycobb73
5 Zooberwerx
6 Arthur U. Poon
7 mark beem
8 GhettoBrassGuy
9 Ian Perge
10 ogyen
11 vep63
12 JRB
13 maggbass
14 jazzenfunk
15 pfschim
16 gregbackstrom
17 Mr. Matt
18 scottyg11
19 laneline
20 YCBass
21 rodneyat
22 scarekrow
23 lullbass
24 krebbs1956
25 sneha1965
26 TBird1958
27 J Hud
28 vates
29 craigb43
30 Funskter
31 Holdsg
32 jacoby75
33 Jam119

 

[kai_ski]

Thanks!

One more question!
Is it the Bartolini NTMB - 3 Band Preamp - 4.6 A/P that is used in the M5V?

I'm not sure. I had to wire it up myself. The controls are:

Volume (a/p). Blend. Mid (250/800hz). Bass/treble stack.

 

[Funkster]

Playing My Mocha/Rootbeer Lull Vintage 4,, I love this bass!
Link Removed

 

[Wilbyman]

Playing My Mocha/Rootbeer Lull Vintage 4,, I love this bass!
Link Removed

Love that look on a J-bass....

 

[Holdsg]

and awesome bass face

 

[kai_ski]

Has anyone ever tried to run a DR "standard" length .125 B string through-body on their M5V? It looks like the taper on the peg end might not clear the nut, but I don't want to sacrifice a string to find out. If that won't work, does anyone know if the "[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]" is the "[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]" length, or longer, and if they will work? I don't want a tapered string, but I want to try through-body loading on the low B.

Thanks!

 

[VroomVroom]

The DR 'B' string is too short, unfortunately. Aside from their standard Sunbeam, Fatbeam, and Lo-Rider models, I haven't tried any other DR strings on these basses. So, other than confirming the bad news, I can't offer much assistance....sorry about that. FWIW, I have tried other strings (stock Dunlops and Cleartones), and I can't say I ever noticed a difference in tension or sound between running those through-the-body and running the DR's at the bridge.

 

[Holdsg]

Just wondering, fellas....
Lots of love for my M4V (avatar pic), settling in nicely into the rotation with the other basses. Wondering if the P4 is just as wonderful, by comparison, as in, does my jazz need a playmate? Thing is, I already got the P-thing covered in my current collection, just not covered by Lull. Anyone in the club have (or once own) a P4 and care to comment?

 

[pauliebass]

Haven't owned one but played Mike's and it was awesome. It's alder, brazilian RW. Aztec gold. It sounded super fat and ballsy.

 

[kai_ski]

As far as the sound of the Lull P bass, I think they are absolutely incredible. My Alder/RW PJ5 has everything I've ever wanted from a P bass. It's punchy and smooth when you're nice to it, but as soon as you dig in it gets that real growly agressive tone. In comparison, the Fender American Standard P I used to have was too polite, IMO. Get a PJ if you want some bark to go with that growl.

Here's a discussion I had with Brad a few pages back about the Lull P4's. He has quite the collection.

Brad, very nice collection! Can you describe the shape and depth of the neck on your P4's? I have a PJ5, and love the neck, much prefer it to the Fender P5 I had, but I imagine the 4 string necks are a bit different.

Mike's necks are super consistent from bass to bass. The gold one has a J neck, it's just a bit over 1/5" wide and has a nice slightly chunky feel front-to-back. The P neck is just a bit under 1.75" and medium thickness. Both have a wonderful round back contour that feels perfect to me, very similar to the contour on your PJ5. All of them have the fingerboard edges rounded over so they are very comfortable and easy to play.

 

[Holdsg]

File under "oh man, I shouldn't have done that".

Went to Mesa Boogie Hollywood during lunch hour today.
Played a PT4 they had there. OOOOooooooweeeeee.

If you want yourself a modern, punchy, in-your face P-bass, that's the ticket. Just an incredible instrument. Now I get to decide: modern, or vintage. Tough, tough choice.

 

[Holdsg]

Vintage won out after all (I have modern covered by other basses). Incoming P4, will post the obligatory pics when its here in a week or so.

 

[VroomVroom]

Picked up my Dreamsicle last night. Holy balls. I simply could not be happier. The sound is amazing. Solo the P and it sounds just right. Center the blend knob, and the fullness/fatness is remarkable. Favor the J and you dial in as much snarl and bite as you'd like. Happy happy happy happy!

Here are some pics:

To my eyes, it just seems to look right as a P/J. Slurp.

FWIW, here's the skinny on the electronics. Duncan/Lull P, Duncan/Lull LHB J, Bartolini NTMB. The P has a quick-connect, and I have the old J pickup w/ quick-connect and the old pickguard...hedging my bets just in case. But - I can't imagine taking this back to J/J...the sound is just too awesome, and it's unique, even amongst my other Lulls.

I've definitely been schizophrenic (and me too!) with this bass. It started life with Bart single-coil J's. A lot to like there, but ultimately the mid-scoop and clickety-clack of that high sizzle were too much. I then went with the Duncan LHB's, but truth be told, my burst ash/maple M5V is the most amazing bass of its kind that I've heard. So...back to the shop one more time for this effort. Goes without saying, but the craftsmanship is impeccable, and....well, have I mentioned the sound?

 

[p0k]

Picked up my Dreamsicle last night. Holy balls. I simply could not be happier. The sound is amazing. Solo the P and it sounds just right. Center the blend knob, and the fullness/fatness is remarkable. Favor the J and you dial in as much snarl and bite as you'd like. Happy happy happy happy!

Here are some pics:

To my eyes, it just seems to look right as a P/J. Slurp.

FWIW, here's the skinny on the electronics. Duncan/Lull P, Duncan/Lull LHB J, Bartolini NTMB. The P has a quick-connect, and I have the old J pickup w/ quick-connect and the old pickguard...hedging my bets just in case. But - I can't imagine taking this back to J/J...the sound is just too awesome, and it's unique, even amongst my other Lulls.

I've definitely been schizophrenic (and me too!) with this bass. It started life with Bart single-coil J's. A lot to like there, but ultimately the mid-scoop and clickety-clack of that high sizzle were too much. I then went with the Duncan LHB's, but truth be told, my burst ash/maple M5V is the most amazing bass of its kind that I've heard. So...back to the shop one more time for this effort. Goes without saying, but the craftsmanship is impeccable, and....well, have I mentioned the sound?

that thing looks amazing!!!